Conaway vows to keep up fight against Obama policies as he files for 2014 primary

WASHINGTON — With filing for the March 4 primary barely underway, just one congressional lawmaker serving San Angelo has drawn a primary challenger.

U.S. Sen. John Cornyn will face Chris Mapp of Port O'Connor in the Republican Primary.

Mapp is a 53-year-old small-business owner billing himself as an anti-establishment candidate and supporter of tea party favorite U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz.

"We are different individuals and this is what makes America great," Mapp said on his campaign website. "We cannot be so different that the country is altered into a state of aristocracy and benevolent subjects."

He is highly critical of Obamacare, lately calling for an end to the navigator program "before it unleashes a wave of fraud and corruption."

Navigators sign people up on the federal health insurance exchange.

No Democrats were listed as entering the Senate race by late Wednesday afternoon.

U.S. Rep. Mike Conaway, who is San Angelo's congressman, and two other West Texas representatives hadn't drawn any challengers by late Wednesday afternoon. The Republican is seeking his fifth term.

He took an anti-Obama stance in his filing announcement.

"The Obama administration has proven time and again that its policies hurt, not help, Americans," Conaway said in a Tuesday media release. "As the President continues to attack our personal liberties and Constitutional rights, I will continue to stand firm for the people of Central and West Texas."

U.S. Rep. Mac Thornberry, a West Texas congressman, has also filed for re-election. The Republican, 55, is seeking his 11th term.

"I will continue opposing government overreach while fighting for commonsense, conservative policies that keep America safe and get the country back on the right track," Thornberry said in a Monday media release.

U.S. Rep. Randy Neugebauer, a West Texas congressman, has filed for re-election. The Republican from Lubbock is seeking his sixth full term.

"It is not only time to end Obamacare and all of the President's other attacks on our conservative way of life here in West Texas and the Big Country, we also need to limit the size, scope, and intrusiveness of the federal government," Neugebauer, 63, said in a Tuesday media release.

The filing period for a place on the primary ballot ends Dec. 9.

Washington correspondent Trish Choate can be reached at 202-408-2709 or choatet@shns.com. Follow her on Twitter @Trish_in_Texas.